By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Federal Government’s investigative panel probing the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has recommended the dismissal of officers implicated in the incident.
The panel also found that the 37 detainees died from asphyxiation, a condition in which the body is deprived of adequate oxygen.
The committee’s chairman, Jonathan Kure, disclosed the findings on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
It is reported that the panel established asphyxiation as the cause of death of the miners, who died while in NSCDC custody in Minna, Niger State.
The Federal Government had constituted the 10-member committee following the deaths on September 17, 2026, and tasked it with investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The panel was also mandated to examine the legality and conditions of the detention facility, determine whether the detainees were subjected to torture or denied medical attention, and establish whether any officers were guilty of negligence or professional misconduct.
It was further expected to recommend appropriate disciplinary or legal action against individuals found culpable.
The minister had earlier assured the families of the deceased and Nigerians that the investigation would be transparent and that anyone found responsible would face appropriate consequences.
